EP2586897B1 - Sewing machine - Google Patents
Sewing machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2586897B1 EP2586897B1 EP20120189533 EP12189533A EP2586897B1 EP 2586897 B1 EP2586897 B1 EP 2586897B1 EP 20120189533 EP20120189533 EP 20120189533 EP 12189533 A EP12189533 A EP 12189533A EP 2586897 B1 EP2586897 B1 EP 2586897B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cloth
- detecting device
- detection range
- seam allowance
- workpiece
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 238000009958 sewing Methods 0.000 title claims description 130
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 claims description 390
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 139
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 101
- 230000001678 irradiating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 15
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 15
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000012840 feeding operation Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000011295 pitch Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000001955 cumulated effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000002542 deteriorative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
- D05B—SEWING
- D05B35/00—Work-feeding or -handling elements not otherwise provided for
- D05B35/10—Edge guides
- D05B35/102—Edge guide control systems with edge sensors
Description
- The present invention relates to a sewing machine that detects a position of a cloth edge (lateral edge portion with respect to a cloth feeding direction) of a workpiece cloth and controls a seam allowance of the workpiece cloth to have a target width.
- As shown in
Fig. 16 , to sew an upper cloth and a lower cloth together such that seam allowances of the upper and lower cloths match each other, aconventional sewing machine 100 includes a feed dog (not illustrated) that feeds the upper and lower cloths along a seam forming direction, upper and lower lateral feed mechanisms 130 (seeFig. 19 ) that feed the upper and lower cloths individually in a direction orthogonal to the cloth feeding direction on the upstream side of asewing needle 101, and clothedge detecting devices JP09-248390A -
Fig. 17 is an enlarged front view of the clothedge detecting device 110 for the upper cloth CU of thesewing machine 100. The clothedge detecting device 110 includes alight source 111 that irradiates slit-shaped irradiation light along the direction (left-right direction inFig. 17 ) orthogonal to the direction of conveyance by the feed dog, and aline sensor 112 that receives the irradiation light. The upper cloth CU passes through the portion between thelight source 111 and theline sensor 112, and a position at which the irradiation light is blocked by the upper cloth CU and the light intensity is lowered is identified from an output of theline sensor 112, and based on this, the position of the cloth edge of the upper cloth CU is detected. The clothedge detecting device 120 for the lower cloth is also configured similarly. By adjusting the upper and lower cloths to appropriate positions by the lateral feed mechanisms based on the positions of the cloth edges of the upper and lower cloths detected by the clothedge detecting devices - In the cloth
edge detecting device 110, the cloth edge of the upper cloth CU is preferably positioned right in the middle of the detection range of theline sensor 112 as shown inFig. 18A . In this state, the cloth edge of the upper cloth CU is evenly at a distance d0 from both end portions of the detection range of theline sensor 112 when the detection range has a length of 2d0, so that the cloth edge of the upper cloth CU is equally prevented from moving out from the detection region regardless of whether upper cloth CU is shifted to the left or to the right. - However, the cloth
edge detecting device 110 is attached to the sewing machine frame in a fixed manner. Therefore, when the set value of the seam allowance of the upper cloth CU is small or large, as shown inFig. 18B and Fig. 18C , sewing is performed with the upper cloth CU being shifted to the left or right. As a result, in either the leftward or rightward direction in which the distance from the current cloth edge of the upper cloth CU to the end portion of the detection region of theline sensor 112 is small, the line sensor can cope with a change in position of the cloth edge only in the range of the distance d1 (<d0), and when the change in position of the cloth edge of the upper cloth CU is more than d1, the cloth edge position is lost, and sewing cannot be continued and an event such as an error stop occurs. - Further, in the cloth
edge detecting device 110, when the upper and lower cloths are straight, as described above, the center of the detection range of theline sensor 112 is preferably set as a target position. However, as shown inFig. 19 , when the shapes of the cloth edges include not only the straight sections S but also curved sections K curved to one side, a position offset from the center of the detection range is preferably set as a target position. -
Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram in a plan view, illustrating a positional relationship among a stitch point of thesewing needle 101, thelateral feed mechanism 130, and the clothedge detecting device 110 of thesewing machine 110 with respect to the upper or lower cloth (only the upper cloth CU is illustrated) at the time of sewing. The reference sign F in the drawing indicates an advancing direction of the upper and lower cloths when they are being conveyed. As shown inFig. 19 , when one side of the lateral feed direction is defined as a forward direction, and the other side is defined as a reverse direction,Fig. 20A shows a detection output of the straight section S of the cloth edge of the upper or lower cloth by the clothedge detecting device 110, andFig. 20B shows a detection output of the curved section K of the upper or lower cloth by the clothedge detecting device 110. - In the straight section S of the upper or lower cloth, deviations occur in both forward and reverse directions, and the occurrence of the deviations is not biased to either side, i.e. the deviations occur evenly in both directions. However, in the curved section K, a great deviation tends to occur toward the curving direction of the cloth edge of the cloth. Thus, when it is known before sewing that a great deviation will occur in either the forward or reverse direction in accordance with the shape of the cloth edge of the upper or lower cloth, it is preferable that the detection range is ensured to be wide in the direction in which such a deviation easily occurs. However, the
conventional sewing machine 100 cannot meet this demand. -
EP- discloses a method and an apparatus for guiding fabric to a sewing machine using photosensitive devices.A-0292 135 - It is an object of the present invention to reduce a deviation of a cloth edge of a workpiece cloth from a detection range of a cloth edge detecting device that detects a seam allowance of the workpiece cloth.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, a sewing machine includes a main feed mechanism configured to feed a workpiece cloth in a predetermined feeding direction along a horizontal plane, a lateral feed mechanism configured to move the workpiece cloth along a workpiece cloth width direction parallel to the horizontal plane and orthogonal to the feeding direction, a cloth edge detecting device configured to detect a seam allowance from a cloth edge to a stitch point in the workpiece cloth width direction of the workpiece cloth, and a control section configured to control the lateral feed mechanism based on the detection of the cloth edge detecting device such that the seam allowance of the workpiece cloth has a target width. The cloth edge detecting device includes a light source for irradiating the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth to be conveyed, and a detection section having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged along the workpiece cloth width direction and configured to detect a position in the workpiece cloth width direction of the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth based on a difference in light amount of a portion of irradiation light blocked by the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth. The sewing machine is characterized in that it further includes an actuator configured to move the cloth edge detecting device along the workpiece cloth width direction, and in that the control section controls the actuator to move the cloth edge detecting device in accordance with a change in target width of the seam allowance.
- The control section may control the actuator such that a target position in a detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the target width of the seam allowance matches a predetermined specified in the detection range.
- The specified position may be the center position in the detection range.
- The sewing machine may further include a setting means capable of setting the specified position to be an optional position in the detection range.
- When the target width of the seam allowance changes during sewing and when a distance from a target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to a new target width of the seam allowance to the specified position is less than a predetermined distance, the control section may set the target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the new target width of the seam allowance as a new target position, and when the distance from the target position that corresponds to the new target width of the seam allowance to the specified position is equal to or more than the predetermined distance, the control section may control the actuator such that the target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the new target width of the seam allowance matches the specified position.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the sewing machine includes an actuator that moves the cloth edge detecting device along the workpiece cloth width direction, and controls the actuator to move the cloth edge detecting device in accordance with a change in target width of the seam allowance. Therefore, for example, when the target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the target width of the seam allowance deviates from a predetermined position in the detection range, the cloth edge detecting device can be moved so as to shift back the target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the target width of the seam allowance to the predetermined position in the detecting range. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid a situation where the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth deviates from the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device, or where the position detection range becomes insufficient on only one side in the workpiece cloth width direction with respect to the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth, and the sewing machine can cope with a change in position of the workpiece cloth in a wide range, and a state where the position of the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth cannot be detected and the sewing machine is stopped is prevented, so that a stable sewing operation can be performed.
- For example, when the target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the target width of the seam allowance deviates from the specified position in the detection range in accordance with a change in target width of the seam allowance, the control section controls the actuator to shift back the target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the target width of the seam allowance to the specified position in the detection range. The specified position may be the center position of the detection range or an optional position in the detection range determined by the setting means.
- For example, when the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth is straight, the specified position is preferably the center position of the detection range. For example, when the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth is curved in one direction, by considering this, a specified position offset to one side from the center position is preferably set in advance so that the detection range can be widely ensured in the direction in which the position of the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth easily deviates in accordance with the curving direction.
- Accordingly, it is possible to more effectively avoid a situation where the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth deviates from the detection range or where the position detection range becomes insufficient on only one side in the workpiece cloth width direction with respect to the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth, and the sewing machine can better cope with a change in position of the workpiece cloth in a wide range.
- For example, when a distance from a target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to a new target width of the seam allowance to the specified position is equal to or more than a predetermined distance, the control section controls the actuator such that the target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the new target width of the seam allowance matches the specified position. In this case, the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth can be detected at the center position of the detection range, and the cloth edge can be prevented from deviating from the detection range and becoming undetectable, thereby enabling a stable detection.
- Further, when the distance from the target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the new target width of the seam allowance to the specified position is less than the predetermined distance determined in advance, the control section sets the target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the new target width of the seam allowance as a new target position. Therefore, when the amount of change in target width of the seam allowance is smaller than the resolution of the actuator, without moving the cloth edge detecting device, the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth can be detected by setting a new target position in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device.
- The following description of embodiments of the present invention describes the present invention in greater detail along with the drawings. The drawings include:
-
Fig. 1 : a perspective view showing a main portion of a top and bottom feed sewing machine as a first embodiment; -
Fig. 2 : an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the main portion of the top and bottom feed sewing machine viewed from the front side; -
Fig. 3 : a sectional view of an upper lateral feed mechanism; -
Fig. 4 : a perspective view of an upper cloth detecting device and a lower cloth detecting device; -
Fig. 5 : a front view of the upper cloth detecting device and the lower cloth detecting device viewed in a Y-axis forward direction; -
Fig. 6 : a block diagram illustrating a control system of the top and bottom feed sewing machine; -
Fig. 7(A) illustrating a relationship among a stitch point, a target width of seam allowances, and a target position in a detection range of a sensor, and (B) illustrating a case where the target width of the seam allowance changes and a new target position is set while the sensor position is kept; -
Fig. 8 : (A) illustrating a relationship among a stitch point, a target width of seam allowances, and a target position in the detection range of the sensor, and (B) illustrating a case where the target width of the seam allowance changes and a new target position to which the sensor position is moved is set to the center position of the detection range; -
Fig. 9 : a diagram illustrating an example of sewing of an upper cloth and a lower cloth; -
Fig. 10 : a table showing a list of sewing conditions for performing the sewing shown inFig. 9 ; -
Fig. 11 : a table showing setting of sewing data for performing first and second seam allowance adjusting controls in the sewing shown inFig. 9 ; -
Fig. 12 : a diagram showing a relationship between a main shaft angle and a needle bar position (height);. -
Fig. 13 : a diagram showing state changes at the respective stitch numbers when performing the sewing shown inFig. 9 , where (A) shows movement amounts in the X-axis direction of the detecting devices moved by upper and lower detection range adjusting mechanisms, (B) shows a change in target position in an image sensor detection range corresponding to a target width of the seam allowance, and (C) shows a change in target width of the seam allowance; -
Fig. 14 : a process flowchart of first and second seam allowance adjusting controls; -
Fig. 15 : a diagram showing state changes at the respective stitch numbers when considering movement times of the upper cloth and lower cloth detecting devices, where (A) showing movement amounts in the X-axis direction of the detecting devices moved by upper and lower detection range adjusting mechanisms, (B) showing a change in target position in an image sensor detection range corresponding to a target width of the seam allowance, and (C) showing a change in target width of the seam allowance. -
Fig. 16 : a front view of a conventional sewing machine; -
Fig. 17 : an enlarged front view of a cloth edge detecting device for an upper cloth of the conventional sewing machine; -
Fig. 18A : a diagram illustrating a detection in a state where a reference position is set to the center position in the cloth edge detecting device; -
Fig. 18B : a diagram illustrating a detection in a state where the reference position is biased in the cloth edge detecting device; -
Fig. 18C : a diagram illustrating a detection in a state where the reference position is biased in the cloth edge detecting device; -
Fig. 19 : an plan view explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship among a stitch point of a sewing needle, a lateral feed mechanism, and a cloth edge detecting device of the sewing machine for upper or lower cloth, when sewing; -
Fig. 20A : a diagram showing a detection output of the cloth edge detecting device in a straight section of the cloth edge of the upper or lower cloth; and -
Fig. 20B : a diagram showing a detection output of the cloth edge detecting device in a curved section of the upper or lower cloth. - In the following description, the Y-axis direction is a horizontal direction, the X-axis direction is horizontal and orthogonal to the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction is a vertical up-down direction.
- In the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, "+" and "-" in each drawing indicate "forward" and "backward". For example, the feeding direction of the upper cloth CU (upper workpiece cloth) and the lower cloth CD (lower workpiece cloth) by the
main feed mechanism 20 is parallel to the Y-axis direction, and the advancing direction of the feeding is the Y-axis forward direction, and the opposite direction is the Y-axis backward direction. - The
lateral feed mechanisms Fig. 1 , the right side is the X-axis forward direction, and the left side is the X-axis backward direction. This X-axis direction corresponds to "workpiece cloth width direction." - The top and bottom
feed sewing machine 100 performs sewing control to sew the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD overlapping each other and placed on thethroat plate 14 so that the cloth edge on the X-axis forward side of the upper cloth CU and the cloth edge in the X-axis forward side of the lower cloth CD match each other without deviation and the seam allowances have a target width determined by sewing data while feeding the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD in the Y-axis forward direction. - As shown in
Fig. 1 andFig. 2 , the top and bottom feed sewing machine 100 includes a needle bar up-down movement mechanism not illustrated that moves a needle bar holding a sewing needle up and down, a main feed mechanism 20 that feeds the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD in the Y-axis forward direction when sewing, an upper lateral feed mechanism 30 that is positioned in the Y-axis backward side with respect to a stitch point and moves the upper cloth CU forward and reverse in the X-axis direction, a lower lateral feed mechanism 50 that is positioned on the Y-axis backward side with respect to the stitch point and moves the lower cloth CD forward and reverse in the X-axis direction, a partition plate 11 that partitions the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD to prevent these from interfering with each other in lateral feeding operations of the lateral feed mechanisms, an upper cloth detecting device 40 as a cloth edge detecting device provided between the stitch point and the upper lateral feed mechanism 30, a lower cloth detecting device 60 as a cloth edge detecting device provided between the stitch point and the lower lateral feed mechanism 50, an upper detection range adjusting mechanism 46 that can move the upper cloth detecting device 40 along the X-axis direction, a lower detection range adjusting mechanism 66 that can move the lower cloth detecting device 60 along the X-axis direction, a shuttle mechanism not illustrated that captures an upper thread from the sewing needle below the throat plate 14 and entwines the upper thread with a lower thread, a control device 13 that controls the components around the upper cloth detecting device 40 and the lower cloth detecting device 60, and a sewing machine controller 19 that controls the entirety of the sewing machine 100. - The needle bar up-down movement mechanism and the shuttle mechanism are the same as those conventionally known, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
- As shown in
Fig. 2 , themain feed mechanism 20 includes acloth presser 23 that continuously moves up and down above thethroat plate 14 and presses the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD, afeed dog 21 that is provided below thethroat plate 14 and makes elliptical movement along the Y-axis direction to project from and withdraw into an opening portion of thethroat plate 14, afeed foot 22 that is provided above thethroat plate 14 and makes elliptical movement along the Y-axis direction, and a movement transmission mechanism not illustrated that applies up-down movement or elliptical movement to thecloth presser 23, thefeed dog 21, and thefeed foot 22. - The
feed dog 21 circles so that the upper section in the elliptical movement becomes the Y-axis forward direction, and thefeed foot 22 circles so that the lower section in the elliptical movement becomes the Y-axis forward direction. Accordingly, thefeed dog 21 and thefeed foot 22 sandwich the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD on thethroat plate 14 and intermittently feed these at predetermined feed pitches. - The
cloth presser 23 moves up and down in synchronization with the circling of thefeed dog 21 and thefeed foot 22, and moves down at a timing at which thefeed dog 21 withdraws downward and thefeed foot 22 withdraws upward to press the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD, and moves up at a timing at which thefeed dog 21 and thefeed foot 22 mesh with each other and feed the cloths. - The
feed dog 21, thefeed foot 22, and thecloth presser 23 obtain power from a sewing machine motor 15 (seeFig. 6 ) that serves as a drive source of the needle bar up-down movement mechanism and the shuttle mechanism. Specifically, thefeed dog 21 makes elliptical movement by being subjected to application of up-down and back-and-forth reciprocating movements by a transmission mechanism that converts the rotation of thesewing machine motor 15 into the up-down reciprocating movement and a transmission mechanism that converts the rotation into back-and-forth reciprocating movement synchronously. - The
feed foot 22 operates in the same manner, and thefeed foot 22 is reciprocated back and forth by converting the rotation of thesewing machine motor 15 into the back-and-forth movement and applying the movement to a rod supporting thefeed foot 22, and is moved up and down by converting the rotation of thesewing machine motor 15 into the up-down movement and applying the movement to the rod supporting thefeed foot 22. - Accordingly, the
feed foot 22 is caused to make elliptical movement. - The rotation of the sewing machine motor is converted into up-down movement and transmitted to the rod supporting the
cloth presser 23, whereby realizing the up-down movement. - The
sewing machine motor 15 applies power to the needle up-down movement mechanism and themain feed mechanism 20 through a main shaft not illustrated, and according to one rotation of the main shaft, the needle up-down movement mechanism performs stitching of one stitch, and themain feed mechanism 20 performs a feeding operation for one pitch. At this time, when the main shaft angle when the needle bar is at the upper dead point is 0°, the sewing needle does not stick in the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD in the main shaft angle range of 270° to 90°. The cloth feeding operation by thefeed dog 21 and thefeed foot 22 is performed in the main shaft angle range of 270° to 90°. - The
partition plate 11 is a long flat plate along the X-axis direction, and an end portion on the X-axis forward side thereof is supported in a cantilevered state by a sewing machine frame. - The lower side of the
partition plate 11 is slightly spaced upward from the upper surface of the bed portion to form a clearance, and through this clearance, the lower cloth CD is conveyed. On the upper side of thepartition plate 11, the upper cloth CU is conveyed, and accordingly, the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD are separated and lateral feeding is carried out individually. -
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the upperlateral feed mechanism 30. - The upper
lateral feed mechanism 30 includes arotating body 31 that conveys the upper cloth CU to be conveyed to themain feed mechanism 20 in the Y-axis forward direction in conjunction with themain feed mechanism 20, a plurality ofpinions 32 that are disposed at even intervals along the outer periphery of therotating body 31 and come into contact with the upper surface of the upper cloth CU to move the upper cloth CU in the X-axis direction (lateral feed direction), aconveyance drive mechanism 33 that applies a torque for conveying the upper cloth CU in the Y-axis forward direction to therotating body 31, a lateralfeed drive mechanism 34 that applies rotating power for lateral feeding to the plurality ofpinions 32, and aframe body 35 that supports these components. - The rotating
body 31 is a structural body hollow inside formed of two cups opposed to each other and integrated, and is supported on one end portion of ahollow pivot 332 of theconveyance drive mechanism 33 that will be described later so that the rotation center thereof is concentric with the hollow shaft. These are supported on theframe body 35 rotatably around the X-axis. - The rotating
body 31 supports rotatably eightpinions 32 at 45° intervals radially inside the rotating body as viewed from the X-axis direction. Eachpinion 32 is supported so that a part of the outer periphery is exposed from a slit-like opening portion formed along the X-axis direction in the outer periphery of therotating body 31, and therotating body 31 is contactable with the upper cloth CU via thesepinions 32. - Each
pinion 32 is axially supported by a rotary shaft along the tangential direction of a circle concentric with the rotatingbody 31, and teeth formed on the outer peripheries of allpinions 32 mesh with aworm gear 343 of the lateralfeed drive mechanism 34 that is disposed at the center of therotating body 31 and rotates around the X-axis. Specifically, inside the rotatingbody 31, when theworm gear 343 concentric with the rotatingbody 31 rotates relative to therotating body 31, thepinions 32 rotate. - The
rotary drive mechanism 33 includes a feedingmotor 331 being a rotary drive source of therotating body 31, ahollow pivot 332 that supports therotating body 31 by one end portion, amain drive sprocket 333 fixed to the output shaft of the feedingmotor 331, a drivensprocket 334 fixed to thehollow pivot 332, and atiming belt 335 laid across thesprockets - The
hollow pivot 332 is supported along the X-axis direction rotatably by theframe body 35. On one end portion thereof, the rotatingbody 31 is fixed and supported. Thehollow pivot 332 is hollow across the entire length, and inside the hollow pivot, atransmission shaft 342 of the lateralfeed drive mechanism 34 is inserted concentrically. - The feeding
motor 331 is a stepping motor, and the output shaft thereof is held on theframe body 35 in a state where it is along the X-axis direction. A torque is applied from themain drive sprocket 333 provided on the output shaft of the feedingmotor 331 to thehollow pivot 332 via thetiming belt 335 and the drivensprocket 334 to rotate therotating body 31 around the X-axis. - The
main feed mechanism 20 inevitably performs periodic intermittent feeding due to its structure for feeding the upper cloth CU by using thefeed dog 21 and thefeed foot 22, however, the feedingmotor 331 is a stepping motor whose operation timing and rotation speed are arbitrarily controllable, so that conveyance of the upper cloth CU can be performed in synchronization with themain feed mechanism 20. - The lateral
feed drive mechanism 34 includes alateral feed motor 341 being a rotary drive source of thepinions 32, thetransmission shaft 342 that penetrates through thehollow shaft 332 and is along the X-axis direction, and theworm gear 343 fixed to one end portion of thetransmission shaft 342 inside the rotatingbody 31. - The
worm gear 343 is positioned at the center of thepinions 32 inside the rotatingbody 31, and mesh with all pinions 32. - The
lateral feed motor 341 is a stepping motor, and its output shaft is directly connected to thetransmission shaft 342. In addition, the lateral feed motor is a stepping motor, so that its operation timing and rotation speed are arbitrarily controllable. - The
frame body 35 is fixed to the sewing machine frame so that the rotatingbody 31 comes into contact with the upper cloth CU to be conveyed, however, for sufficient contact of therotating body 31 with the upper cloth CU to be conveyed, theframe body 35 may be structured so that the rotatingbody 31 is brought into contact with the upper cloth CU to be conveyed by its own weight by making theframe body 35 movable up and down with respect to the sewing machine frame or making theframe body 35 swingable around the Y-axis, or therotating body 31 may be brought into contact with the upper cloth CU to be conveyed by using an actuator. - With the above-described configuration, the upper
lateral feed mechanism 30 can be structured so that the feedingmotor 331 is driven to rotate therotating body 31, and the upper cloth CU that comes into contact with the rotatingbody 31 via thepinions 32 can be fed in the Y-axis forward direction. - By driving the
lateral feed motor 341, theworm gear 343 rotates and thepinions 32 rotate, and accordingly, without obstructing conveyance in the Y-axis direction of the upper cloth CU, the upper cloth can also be moved in the X-axis direction, and accordingly, the seam allowance of the upper cloth CU can be adjusted. - To rotatively drive the
pinions 32 during rotation of therotating body 31, thetransmission shaft 342 needs to be rotated relative to thehollow pivot 332. Therefore, when lateral-feeding the upper cloth CU, to obtain necessary rotations of thepinions 32, the rotation speed of thelateral feed motor 341 is controlled to have a predetermined speed difference from the rotation speed of the feedingmotor 331. - The lower
lateral feed mechanism 50 includes components that are substantially the same as those of the upperlateral feed mechanism 30, so that description of these components is not given. - The lower
lateral feed mechanism 50 is installed inside the bed portion so that the upper portion of the rotating body thereof projects slightly higher than the upper surface of thethroat plate 14, and comes into contact with the lower cloth CD to be conveyed on the lower side of thepartition plate 11 from below to feed the lower cloth in the Y-axis direction and move the lower cloth in the X-axis direction. - The feeding
motor 531 and the lateral feed motor 541 (seeFig. 6 ) of the lowerlateral feed mechanism 50 are controlled by thecontrol device 13 together with the feedingmotor 331 and thelateral feed motor 341 of the upperlateral feed mechanism 30. -
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60. As illustrated, the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 are supported slidably along the X-axis direction by the upper portion and the lower portion of abase portion 18 that supports areflector 12 formed of a thin metal plate whose both surfaces are lustrous. - The
base portion 18 is a long structural body along the X-axis direction, and the end portion in the X-axis forward direction thereof is supported in a cantilevered state by the sewing machine frame, and from the end portion in the X-axis backward direction, thereflector 12 is extended. - From the upper surface and the lower surface of the end portion in the X-axis backward direction of the
base portion 18, the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 are extended toward the X-axis backward direction, and extended end portions of these detectingdevices cloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60, thereflector 12 is sandwiched so that its surface-side and back-side reflecting surfaces are along the X-Y plane. - Specifically, the lower surface of the extended end portion of the upper
cloth detecting device 40 faces the upper reflecting surface of thereflector 12, and the upper surface of the extended end portion of the lowercloth detecting device 60 faces the lower reflecting surface of thereflector 12. - At the time of sewing, in a state where the cloth edge on the X-axis forward side of the lower cloth CD is inserted to the side below the
reflector 12 in the opening portion, the presence of this cloth edge and its position in the X-axis direction are detected, and in a state where the cloth edge on the X-axis forward side of the upper cloth CU is inserted to the side above thereflector 12 in the opening portion, the presence of this cloth edge and its position in the X-axis direction are detected. - The lower
cloth detecting device 60 includes ahousing 61 that supports the components inside, alight source unit 62 as a light source that irradiates light for detecting the position in the X-axis direction of the cloth edge of the lower cloth CD, aCMOS image sensor 65 as a detection section that receives reflected light from thereflector 12 based on irradiation light from thelight source unit 62, anLED 64 as a light source that irradiates light for detecting the presence of the cloth edge of the lower cloth CD, and alight receiving LED 63 as a detecting element that receives reflected light from thereflector 12 based on irradiation light from theLED 64. - The
light source unit 62 has a function of emitting slit-shaped parallel light along the X-axis direction, and is constituted by, for example, a point light source such as an LED, a lens that converts diffused light from the point light source into parallel light, and a diaphragm for forming the parallel light into a slit shape, etc. Thislight source unit 62 can prevent the position detection accuracy from deteriorating due to, for example, a difference in height of the irradiation surface of the lower cloth CD by irradiating parallel light. - The
image sensor 65 is formed by arranging minute light receiving elements with widths in the X-axis direction of 10 to 20 micrometers in the X-axis direction, and detect light intensities at positions in the longitudinal direction of reflected light at a position at which slit-shaped irradiation light of thelight source unit 62 is reflected by thereflector 12. - In the above-described configuration, the
light source unit 62 irradiates slit-shaped parallel light along the X-axis direction onto thereflector 12, and at this time, the cloth edge of the lower cloth CD covers a part of the lower reflecting surface of thereflector 12. Therefore, the reflected light of the slit-shaped parallel light lowers in light intensity at a part in the longitudinal direction according to the position of the cloth edge of the lower cloth CD. On the other hand, theimage sensor 65 includes light receiving elements arranged along the X-axis direction, so that based on their detection outputs, a position at which the light intensity of the reflected light of the slit-shaped parallel light lowered can be identified. Then, by specifying the position at which the light intensity lowered, the position in the X-axis direction of the cloth edge of the lower cloth CD, that is, a seam allowance at the time of detection is obtained. - The
LED 64 and thelight receiving LED 63 are disposed closer to the X-axis backward side than thelight source unit 62 and theimage sensor 65, and are used to detect a deviation of the lower cloth CD from the opening portion at the time of sewing and detect passage of the terminal end of the lower cloth CD through the portion between thereflector 12 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 at the end of conveyance. - The
LED 64 is a point light source and irradiates diffused light, however, the irradiation light may not be parallel light as long as the presence of the lower cloth CD can be detected at the irradiation position. - The
light receiving LED 63 is provided on the position of reflection of the irradiation light of theLED 64 by thereflector 12. - The upper
cloth detecting device 40 includes ahousing 41 that supports the components inside, alight source unit 42 as a light source that irradiates light for detecting the position in the X-axis direction of the cloth edge of the upper cloth CU, animage sensor 45 as a detection section that receives reflected light from thereflector 12 based on the irradiation light from thelight source unit 42, anLED 44 as a light source that irradiates light for detecting the presence of the cloth edge of the upper cloth CU, and alight receiving LED 43 as a detecting element that receives reflected light from thereflector 12 based on the irradiation light from theLED 44. These components are the same as those of the lowercloth detecting device 60, so that description of these is omitted. -
Fig. 5 is a front view of the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 along the line of sight in the Y-axis forward direction. - As shown in
Fig. 5 , alongside the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 described above, an upper detectionrange adjusting mechanism 46 and a lower detectionrange adjusting mechanism 66 that make the uppercloth detecting device 40 or the lowercloth detecting device 60 movable along the X-axis direction with respect to thebase portion 18 are provided. - The upper detection
range adjusting mechanism 46 includes aposition adjustment motor 47 as an actuator that moves the uppercloth detecting device 40 along the X-axis direction, rackteeth 48 provided on the end portion upper surface on the X-axis forward side of thecasing 41 of the uppercloth detecting device 40, and apinion gear 49 that is provided on the output shaft of theposition adjustment motor 47 and meshes with therack teeth 48. - The
position adjustment motor 47 is a stepping motor, and is driven according to control by thecontrol device 13, and according to driving of theposition adjustment motor 47, the uppercloth detecting device 40 is arbitrarily moved along the X-axis direction. - The lower detection
range adjusting mechanism 66 includes aposition adjustment motor 67,rack teeth 68, and apinion gear 69 that are configured in substantially the same manner as in the upper detectionrange adjusting mechanism 46, and theposition adjustment motor 67 of the lower detectionrange adjusting mechanism 66 is also controlled by thecontrol device 13 to arbitrarily move the lowercloth detecting device 60 along the X-axis direction. -
Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a control system of the top and bottomfeed sewing machine 100. - The top and bottom
feed sewing machine 100 includes thesewing machine controller 19 that controls the entire sewing machine at the time of sewing, and thecontrol device 13 that controls the components around the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60. - To the
sewing machine controller 19, asewing machine motor 15 for moving the sewing needle up and down is connected via adriving circuit 15a. A sewing machine main shaft not illustrated that is driven to rotate by thesewing machine motor 15 is provided with anencoder 16 that detects the shaft angle thereof, and outputs a detected shaft angle to thesewing machine controller 19 via aninterface 16a. Thisencoder 16 outputs a resolution of 0.25 [deg] for the main shaft angle, that is, outputs 1440 pulses per one rotation of the main shaft. - Further, the top and bottom
feed sewing machine 100 includes anoperation panel 17 for inputting various settings and displaying various information, and theoperation panel 17 is also connected to thesewing machine controller 19 via theinterface 17a. - On the other hand, to the
control device 13, feedingmotors lateral feed devices lateral feed motors position adjustment motors circuits - To the
control device 13, the lowercloth detecting device 60 and the uppercloth detecting device 40 are connected viainterfaces image sensors control device 13 includes A/D converters image sensors - The
control device 13 includes aCPU 131 that performs various arithmetic processes, aROM 132 in which a program on operation controls of the above-described components has been stored, aRAM 133 that stores various data on the processes of theCPU 131 in a work area, anEEPROM 134 as a storage section that stores various setting data and sewing data, etc., and the above-described A/D converters - The top and bottom
feed sewing machine 100 performs sewing according to sewing data (described later) in which values of seam allowances for stitch numbers are set. First, the overview of a basic sewing operation to be performed by thesewing machine controller 19 and thecontrol device 13 is described. - When sewing is started according to driving of the
sewing machine motor 15 in a state where the cloth edge of the upper cloth CU is inserted between the uppercloth detecting device 40 and thereflector 12 and the cloth edge of the lower cloth CD is inserted between the lowercloth detecting device 60 and thereflector 12, thecontrol device 13 monitors a main shaft angle based on pulse signals input from theencoder 16 through thesewing machine controller 19, and drives the feedingmotors lateral feed motors lateral feed mechanism 30 and the lowerlateral feed mechanism 50 to perform feeding of the upper cloth CU by the upperlateral feed mechanism 30 and feeding of the lower cloth CD by the lowerlateral feed mechanism 50 in synchronization with the intermittent feeding operation in themain feed mechanism 20. - Specifically, in the
main feed mechanism 20, thefeed dog 21 and thefeed foot 22 circle in an elliptical orbit, and in a part of the orbit, they come into contact with the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD and convey these, so that the angle range of the main shaft angle for conveyance is always fixed, and the feeding pitch is also determined by setting. Therefore, from the output of theencoder 16, reach to the angle range of the main shaft angle in which conveyance is performed is monitored, and driving of the feedingmotors lateral feed motors motors lateral feed motors pinions 32 from rotating. - The
control device 13 reads a target width of the seam allowances for the next stitch number from the sewing data and monitors the main shaft angle based on the output of theencoder 16, and when the predetermined main shaft angle (main shaft angle at which the sewing needle does not stick in the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD) is reached, reads the sensor outputs of theimage sensors cloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 and calculates current seam allowances of the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD. - Then, the target width of the seam allowances and the detected seam allowances are compared, and for example, when the seam allowance detected on the upper cloth CU is small, the
lateral feed motor 341 of the upperlateral feed mechanism 30 is rotated at a speed higher than that of the feedingmotor 331, and thetransmission shaft 342 is rotated relative to thehollow pivot 332 to apply the rotation to thepinions 32 of therotating body 31, whereby moving the upper cloth CU in the X-axis forward direction. Accordingly, the seam allowance of the upper cloth CU is adjusted to increase. When the seam allowance detected on the upper cloth CU is large, thelateral feed motor 341 of the upperlateral feed mechanism 30 is rotated at a speed lower than that of the feedingmotor 331 to apply the rotation to thepinions 32, whereby moving the upper cloth CU in a direction to reduce the seam allowance of the upper cloth CU. - The lower
lateral feed mechanism 50 for the lower cloth CD is controlled in the same manner. Then, when stitching of the number of stitches determined by the sewing data is completed, the sewing machine motor stops and sewing is ended. - As described above, the top and bottom
feed sewing machine 100 is set so that the target width of the seam allowances changes among the plurality of stitch numbers of a series of sewing, and at the time of sewing, and controls the upper and lowerlateral feed mechanisms cloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 detect seam allowances of the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as "cloth" for convenience) so that the seam allowances for each stitch follow the setting. - Then, as one of the features of the top and bottom
feed sewing machine 100, either one of the first seam allowance adjusting control and the second seam allowance adjusting mechanism is selectively performed in the detection of the seam allowances for each stitch. - First, the first seam allowance adjusting control to be performed by the
control device 13 is described. - For seam allowance detection, the
image sensors image sensors - As described above, when a target width of the seam allowances is determined in advance, the
control device 13 obtains target positions in the detection ranges of theimage sensors - For example, as shown in (A) of
Fig. 7 , thecontrol device 13 determines a position separated by the target width W0 of the seam allowances from the stitch point N toward the X-axis forward direction as a target position P0. - The detection
range adjusting mechanisms image sensor - Then, at the time of sewing, this target position P0 and the detected positions of the cloth edges of the workpiece cloths are compared, and based on which direction the positions of the workpiece cloths deviate in, the upper and lower
lateral feed mechanisms - Further, when the target width W0 of the seam allowances changes to the new target width W1 during sewing and the position at the distance W1 from the stitch point N is not separated by a predetermined distance (for example, 1 [mm]) or more from the center position C of each detection range described above, without operating the detection
range adjusting mechanisms - For example, as shown in (B) of
Fig. 7 , when the new target width W1 of the seam allowances is W1 = W0-d1 and d < 1 [mm], the new target position P1 that is at the distance W1 from the stitch point N is set while the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 keep their current positions. - Then, this target position P1 is compared with detected positions of the cloth edges of the workpiece cloths, and the workpiece cloth lateral feeding operation control is performed by the upper and lower
lateral feed mechanisms - Thus, in the first seam allowance adjusting control, when the distance from the center position C of the detection range of the
image sensors range adjusting mechanism devices - In this case, without mechanical operations like the operations for moving the detecting
devices control device 13. - Next, the second seam allowance adjusting control to be performed by the
control device 13 is described. - In the second seam allowance adjusting control, when the target width of the seam allowances changes to the new target width W1 during sewing and the position at the distance W1 from the stitch point N is at a predetermined distance (for example, 1 [mm]) or more from the center position C of the above-described detection range, each detection
range adjusting mechanism - (A) of
Fig. 8 shows the same state as shown in (A) ofFig. 7 , and (B) ofFig. 8 shows a case where the target width W0 of the seam allowances changes to the new target width W1. As shown inFig. 8 , when the new target width W1 of the seam allowances is W1 = W0 - d1 and d1 ≥ 1 [mm], the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 are moved by d1 in the X-axis backward direction by the detectionrange adjusting mechanisms - Then, this center position C is compared with detected positions of the cloth edges of the workpiece cloths, and the upper and lower
lateral feed mechanisms - Thus, in the second seam allowance adjusting control, the new target position P1 matches the center position C of the detection range, so that even after the target width of the seam allowances is changed, in each detecting
device - A reference amount compared with d1 to determine which of the first seam allowance adjusting control and the second seam allowance adjusting control is to be performed is a minimum unit movement amount based on the resolution of the
position adjustment motor range adjusting mechanism devices position adjustment motors - When the target width of the seam allowances is changed, the second seam allowance adjusting control is preferably always performed to match the position in each detection range that corresponds to the new target width of the seam allowances with the center position C of the detection range, however, fine position adjustment is limited by the resolution of the
position adjustment motor device - In the top and bottom
feed sewing machine 100, normally, the seam allowances of the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD are set to the same value, so that the case where the first seam allowance adjusting control and the second seam allowance adjusting control are the same between the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 and between the upperlateral feed mechanism 30 and the lowerlateral feed mechanism 50 is described, however, the seam allowances of the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD may be set to values different from each other. In this case, based on the respective target widths of the seam allowances of the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD, the first seam allowance adjusting control and the second seam allowance adjusting control are performed for the upper cloth and the lower cloth individually. - In
Fig. 7 andFig. 8 , illustration of the detectionrange adjusting mechanism 66 is omitted. -
Fig. 9 is an example of sewing of the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD. In the top and bottomfeed sewing machine 100, the upper cloth CU and the lower cloth CD (hereinafter, referred to as workpiece cloths) are conveyed toward the upper side of the drawing, and a seam is formed from the upper end to the lower end. - In the process of stitching of 300 stitches on the workpiece cloths, an initial target width of the seam allowances is set to 10 [mm], and sewing is performed to change the seam allowances to 11 [mm]. In detail, until the 94th stitch after the sewing start, stitching is performed by setting the target width of the seam allowances to 10 [mm], and from the 95th stitch to the 99th stitch, the seam allowances are increased by 0.1 [mm] per stitch, from the 100th stitch to 194th stitch, stitching is performed by keeping the seam allowances at 10.5 [mm], from 195th stitch to 199th stitch, the seam allowances are increased by 0.1 [mm] per stitch, and from the 200th stitch to the 300th stitch, stitching is performed by keeping the seam allowances at 11 [mm].
-
Fig. 10 is a table showing a list of sewing conditions for performing the sewing shown inFig. 9 . As illustrated, the total number of stitches in the sewing is 300 stitches, the maximum speed of thesewing machine motor 15 during sewing is 3000 [sti/min] (rpm), the resolution of theencoder 16 is 0.25 [deg], the settings of the seam allowances for the respective stitches are as described above, the sensing periods of theimage sensors position adjustment motors -
Fig. 11 is a table showing setting contents of sewing data for performing the first and second seam allowance adjusting controls in the sewing shown inFig. 9 . As illustrated, in the sewing data, data numbers indicating the order of the first and second seam allowance adjusting controls, stitch numbers (PINNUM) at which the first and second seam allowance adjusting controls are performed, main shaft angles (FREQ) at which the first and second seam allowance adjusting controls are performed, change points (POINT) that are cumulated values of encoder output signals at which the first and second seam allowance adjusting controls are performed, and deviations (OFFSET) between a target position in the detection range of theimage sensor - The data numbers in the sewing data indicate the process order, and the
control device 13 reads the setting contents in this order. - The stitch number (PINNUM), the main shaft angle (FREQ), and the change point (POINT) are parameters for converting the timing to perform the first or second seam allowance adjusting control at each data number from the sewing start into a cumulated value (encoder unit system) of the output pulses of the
encoder 16. These parameters satisfy the relationship shown by the following formula (1): -
Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a relationship between the main shaft angle and the needle bar position (height). When the upper dead point of the needle bar is 0°, the range of the main shaft angle in which the sewing needle does not stick in the workpiece cloths is 270 to 90°. Therefore, the first or second seam allowance adjusting control and workpiece cloth lateral feeding operation control must be performed at 270 [deg] at the stitch number just before the target stitch number. - Therefore, when this start timing is converted into the encoder unit system, it is as shown by the formula (1) above. 1440 is the resolution of the encoder 16 (the number of output pulses per one rotation of the main shaft).
-
Fig. 13 shows a movement amount in the X-axis direction of each detectingdevice image sensor Fig. 9 , andFig. 14 is a flowchart showing contents of processes of the first and second seam allowance adjusting controls to be performed by thecontrol device 13 when performing the sewing shown inFig. 9 . - Based on these, the processes of the first and second seam allowance adjusting controls are described.
- First, in the
control device 13, various settings are initialized (Step S1). That is, a count value i of the data numbers the sewing data of which is read is set to 0, and a set offset value that is a count of the deviations between the target position in the detection range of theimage sensor device - The initial positions of the upper and lower
cloth detecting devices lower image sensors - Then, the process waits for an input of sewing start into the
operation panel 17 by an operator of the sewing machine (Step S3), and when the start is input, driving of thesewing machine motor 15 is started (Step S5). When driving of thesewing machine motor 15 is started, thecontrol device 13 starts counting of output signals of the encoder 16 (Step S7). At this time, theencoder 16 also starts to output a number-of-rotations signal of one pulse per one rotation of the main shaft, and thecontrol device 13 starts to count a stitch number count value. - Then, it is judged whether the count value of the
encoder 16 has reached the value of the change point at the current data number (Step S9). For example, when the count value of the data numbers is i = 0, the change point is 135630. - Then, when the count value does not reach the change point at the time of judgment, the process is returned to Step S7 and counting of the encoder outputs is continued. When the count value of the
encoder 16 reaches the change point, the value of the deviation (OFFSET) between the target position at the current data number and the center position C is added to the set offset value that is a count of the deviations between the target position in the detection range and the center position C (Step S11). For example, a state change that increases the deviation between the target position and the center position C in the section of 95th to 99th stitches and in the section of 195th to 199th stitches shown in (B) ofFig. 13 correspond to this process of Step S11. - For example, when the count value of the data numbers is i = 0, the deviation (OFFSET) is "1." By adding this, the new target position P1 is set to the position 10.1 [mm] from the stitch point N (see
Fig. 7 ). In this case, the new target position P1 deviates by 0.1 [mm] in the X-axis forward direction from the center position C. The cloth edges of the workpiece cloths are laterally fed by the upper and lowerlateral feed mechanisms - Then, when the set offset value is added, the count value i of the data numbers is also incremented by 1 (step S13). Accordingly, the
control device 13 reads setting contents of the next data number. Further, thecontrol device 13 judges whether the added set offset value has reached 10 (Step S15). When the set offset value does not reach 10, the control device returns the process to Step S7. - When this set offset value is less than 10, this means that the deviation between the target position in each detection range and the center position C is less than 1 [mm], and therefore, the
control device 13 performs the first seam allowance adjusting control to change only the target position in each detection range without moving the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60. - When the set offset value reaches 10, this means that the deviation between the target position in each detecting range and the center position C reaches 1 [mm], so that the
control device 13 performs the second seam allowance adjusting control. Specifically, the control device resets the set offset value to 0, and adds 1 to the sensor position offset value. By this addition, thecontrol device 13 drives theposition adjustment motors cloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 by 1 [mm] in the X-axis forward direction. In addition, the target position in each detecting range is matched with the center position C. For example, the state change at the 200th stitch shown in (A) and (B) ofFig. 13 corresponds to this. - More precisely, in Step S15, it is judged whether the cumulated set offset has reached +10 or -10. Specifically, even when the deviation toward the X-axis backward side of the target position in each detection range from the center position C reaches 1 [mm], control to match the target position in each detection range with the center position C is also performed. In this case, the
control device 13 drives theposition adjustment motors cloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 by 1 [mm] in the X-axis backward direction. - Next, the
control device 13 judges whether the stitch number count value has reached 300 that is a planned stitch number by referring to the stitch number count value (Step S19). Then, when it does not reach 300, the control device returns the process to Step S7, and when the stitch number count value reaches 300, the control device stops driving of thesewing machine motor 15 and ends the process. - As described above, the top and bottom
feed sewing machine 100 includesposition adjustment motors devices image sensor devices range adjusting mechanisms image sensors - In the case where the target width of the seam allowances changes, when the target position in each detection range of the
image sensors control device 13 does not move the upper or lower detectingdevice position adjustment motors image sensor - The example shown in (A) of
Fig. 13 illustrates a case where the detectingdevices Fig. 15 depending on the actual performance of the actuators. - Therefore, when the movement speed and the required time are known in advance, it is preferable that, according to the movement speed of the detecting
devices Fig. 15 . For example, when the detectingdevices devices - The upper detection
range adjusting mechanism 46 and the lower detectionrange adjusting mechanism 66 move the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60 using a rack-pinion mechanism, however, but not limiting to this, a belt mechanism, a ball screw mechanism, a solenoid, a voice coil motor, a linear motor, etc., may be used to move the uppercloth detecting device 40 and the lowercloth detecting device 60. - In the first and second seam allowance adjusting controls, the above-described
control device 13 determines a position separated by the target width W0 of the seam allowances from the stitch point N as the target position P0 in each detection range, and performs positioning control by using each detectionrange adjusting mechanism image sensor range adjusting mechanism range adjusting mechanism - However, as described above, the setting of the target positions P0, P1 is not limited to the case where the specified position is the center position C.
- For example, in a section of a predetermined number of stitches, when it is known in advance that the cloth edge shapes of the upper and lower cloths are curved, in the process of stitching, the upper and lower cloths easily deviate in the curving direction from the reference position (for example, when the cloth edge shapes curve leftward, the cloths easily deviate leftward), and in this case, it is preferable that to cope with occurrence of leftward deviation, by setting the specified position to a position offset rightward from the center position C instead of setting the specified position at the center position C, the detection range on the left side is secured to be wider than the detection range on the right side.
- Therefore, it is also possible that the specified position can be arbitrarily set in advance by a setting means (e.g.,, the operation panel 17) and the set specified position is stored in a memory, etc., and in a curving section, etc., the detection
range adjusting mechanisms range adjusting mechanisms
Claims (5)
- A sewing machine (100) comprising:a main feed mechanism (20) configured to feed a workpiece cloth (CU, CD) in a predetermined feeding direction (Y) along a horizontal plane;a lateral feed mechanism (30, 50) configured to move the workpiece cloth (CU, CD) along a workpiece cloth width direction (X) parallel to the horizontal plane and orthogonal to the feeding direction (Y);a cloth edge detecting device (40, 60) configured to detect a seam allowance from a cloth edge to a stitch point in the workpiece cloth width direction (X) of the workpiece cloth (CU, CD); anda control section (13) configured to control the lateral feed mechanism (30, 50) based on the detection by the cloth edge detecting device (40, 60) such that the seam allowance of the workpiece cloth has a target width,wherein the cloth edge detecting device (40, 60) comprises a light source (42, 62) for irradiating the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth (CU, CD) to be conveyed, and a detection section (45, 65) including a plurality of light receiving elements arranged along the workpiece cloth width direction (X) and configured to detect a position of the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth (CU, CD) in the workpiece cloth width direction (X) based on a difference in light amount of a portion of irradiation light blocked by the cloth edge of the workpiece cloth (CU, CD),
characterized in that the sewing machine (100) further comprises an actuator (47, 67) configured to move the cloth edge detecting device (40, 60) along the workpiece cloth width direction (X), andthe control section (13) controls the actuator (47, 67) to move the cloth edge detecting device (40, 60) in accordance with a change in the target width (W0, W1) of the seam allowance. - The sewing machine (100) according to claim 1, wherein the control section (13) controls the actuator (47, 67) such that a target position (P0, P1) in a detection range of the cloth edge detecting device (40, 60) that corresponds to the target width (W0, W1) of the seam allowance matches a predetermined specified position in the detection range.
- The sewing machine (100) according to claim 2, wherein the specified position is the center position (C) in the detection range.
- The sewing machine (100) according to claim 2, further comprising a setting means (17) capable of setting the specified position to be an optional position in the detection range.
- The sewing machine (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein
the control section (13) is configured to:set the target position (P1) in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device (40, 60) that corresponds to a new target width (W1) of the seam allowance as a new target position (P1), when the target width (W0) of the seam allowance changes during sewing and when a distance (d1) from the target position (P1) in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device (40, 60) that corresponds to the new target width (W1) of the seam allowance to the specified position is less than a predetermined distance, andcontrol the actuator (47, 67) such that the target position (P1) in the detection range of the cloth edge detecting device that corresponds to the new target width (W1) of the seam allowance matches the specified position, when the distance (d1) from the target position (P1) that corresponds to the new target width (W1) of the seam allowance to the specified position is equal to or more than the predetermined distance.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2011232458A JP5936843B2 (en) | 2011-10-24 | 2011-10-24 | sewing machine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2586897A1 EP2586897A1 (en) | 2013-05-01 |
EP2586897B1 true EP2586897B1 (en) | 2014-05-14 |
Family
ID=47429529
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP20120189533 Active EP2586897B1 (en) | 2011-10-24 | 2012-10-23 | Sewing machine |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2586897B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5936843B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103061047B (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN108442049A (en) * | 2017-02-16 | 2018-08-24 | 大和缝纫机制造株式会社 | End edge portion automatic correction device and sewing machine |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103590202B (en) * | 2013-11-07 | 2015-04-01 | 杰克缝纫机股份有限公司 | Sewing machine |
DE102015102342A1 (en) | 2015-02-19 | 2016-08-25 | Faurecia Sièges d'Automobile | sewing machine |
CN106702610B (en) * | 2017-02-17 | 2022-04-12 | 广东溢达纺织有限公司 | Opposite side sewing system for multilayer cylindrical cut pieces |
JP7137297B2 (en) * | 2017-07-25 | 2022-09-14 | Juki株式会社 | sewing machine |
CN112095235B (en) * | 2020-09-18 | 2022-07-22 | 东阳市飞龙帽业有限公司 | Self-adaptive edge sewing machine capable of automatically identifying cloth corners and edge sewing method |
CN112095234B (en) * | 2020-09-18 | 2023-04-25 | 永州鑫盛服饰有限公司 | Arc-shaped edge fabric self-adaptive hemming machine and using method thereof |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1089840A (en) * | 1912-10-25 | 1914-03-10 | Bernard Jacquart | Clay-cleaner. |
GB1239980A (en) * | 1967-08-08 | 1971-07-21 | Ivanhoe Res Corp | Feed guide for sheet material |
US3609373A (en) * | 1970-05-18 | 1971-09-28 | Singer Co | Photoelectric sensors and circuitry for edge-guiding systems for sewing machines |
US3994247A (en) * | 1975-05-30 | 1976-11-30 | Amf Incorporated | Material positioning apparatus |
US4825787A (en) * | 1987-05-20 | 1989-05-02 | Porter Sewing Machines, Inc. | Method and apparatus for guiding fabric to a sewing machine |
JP2595628B2 (en) * | 1988-03-05 | 1997-04-02 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Cloth edge copying sewing machine |
JPH0295399A (en) * | 1988-09-30 | 1990-04-06 | Aisin Seiki Co Ltd | Cloth end detection controller for sewing machine |
JPH06121889A (en) * | 1992-10-08 | 1994-05-06 | Brother Ind Ltd | Cloth end detector of sewing machine |
JPH07313769A (en) * | 1994-05-26 | 1995-12-05 | Juki Corp | Position matching device for fabric |
JPH09248390A (en) | 1996-03-13 | 1997-09-22 | Juki Corp | Cloth edge control sewing machine |
DE19882317C2 (en) * | 1998-02-27 | 2003-12-04 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Control device for a sewing machine |
JP2003156454A (en) * | 2001-11-26 | 2003-05-30 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | X-ray inspection device and controlling method and adjusting method of the same |
JP2005131255A (en) * | 2003-10-31 | 2005-05-26 | Juki Corp | Sewing machine |
-
2011
- 2011-10-24 JP JP2011232458A patent/JP5936843B2/en active Active
-
2012
- 2012-10-23 EP EP20120189533 patent/EP2586897B1/en active Active
- 2012-10-24 CN CN201210409842.3A patent/CN103061047B/en active Active
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN108442049A (en) * | 2017-02-16 | 2018-08-24 | 大和缝纫机制造株式会社 | End edge portion automatic correction device and sewing machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN103061047B (en) | 2016-03-02 |
JP5936843B2 (en) | 2016-06-22 |
EP2586897A1 (en) | 2013-05-01 |
JP2013085919A (en) | 2013-05-13 |
CN103061047A (en) | 2013-04-24 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP2586897B1 (en) | Sewing machine | |
KR101178241B1 (en) | Upward and downward feeding sewing machine | |
JP2017184980A (en) | sewing machine | |
CN107268191B (en) | Sewing machine | |
CN106400326B (en) | Sewing machine | |
JP2017074269A (en) | sewing machine | |
CN106544793B (en) | Sewing machine | |
JP5925603B2 (en) | sewing machine | |
CN109295616B (en) | Sewing machine | |
CN109295617B (en) | Sewing machine | |
CN109295618A (en) | Sewing machine | |
CN87108155A (en) | The method of sewing knitted fabric workpieces and equipment thereof | |
KR101524121B1 (en) | Cloth cutting device of sewing machine for button hole stitch | |
JP5013780B2 (en) | Sewing sewing machine | |
KR101893444B1 (en) | Tape-stitching apparatus | |
CN109537182B (en) | Sewing machine | |
JP3038576B2 (en) | Hook and eye fitting sewing machine | |
JP2016165323A (en) | Automatic sewing device and automatic sewing method | |
US6920837B2 (en) | Sewing machine | |
EP2570542A1 (en) | Sewing machine | |
JP2018110608A (en) | sewing machine | |
JP2007195682A (en) | Sewing machine | |
JP6962713B2 (en) | sewing machine | |
JP7181117B2 (en) | sewing machine | |
JPH0479986A (en) | Cloth feed mechanism of sewing machine |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20130831 |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: D05B 35/10 20060101AFI20131010BHEP |
|
GRAJ | Information related to disapproval of communication of intention to grant by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the epo deleted |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSDIGR1 |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20131127 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 668395 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20140615 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602012001772 Country of ref document: DE Effective date: 20140626 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 668395 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: VDEP Effective date: 20140514 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG4D |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140815 Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140914 Ref country code: CY Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: NO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140814 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: HR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: PL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: LV Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: RS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140915 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: EE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: CZ Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: RO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: SK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602012001772 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20150217 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602012001772 Country of ref document: DE Effective date: 20150217 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20141023 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R082 Ref document number: 602012001772 Country of ref document: DE Representative=s name: HOEGER, STELLRECHT & PARTNER PATENTANWAELTE MB, DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: MM4A |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST Effective date: 20150630 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20141031 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20141023 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: HU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO Effective date: 20121023 Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20151031 Ref country code: MT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20151031 Ref country code: TR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SM Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20161023 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20161023 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20140514 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R082 Ref document number: 602012001772 Country of ref document: DE Representative=s name: HOEGER, STELLRECHT & PARTNER PATENTANWAELTE MB, DE |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20230830 Year of fee payment: 12 |